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〃Here　is　the　sword　and　here　the　seal！〃　replied　the　strategist；　displaying　the　emblems　of　authority。　〃Disobedience　of　orders　will　be　death。〃
Liu　Bei　said；　〃Do　you　not　understand　that　the　plans　elaborated　in　a　little　chamber　decide　success　over　thousands　of　miles？　Do　not　disobey　the　mand；　my　brothers。〃
Zhang　Fei　went　out　smiling　cynically。
Guan　Yu　remarked；　〃Let　us　await　the　result。　If　he　fails；　then　we　can　look　to　it。〃
The　brothers　left。　None　of　the　officers　understood　anything　of　the　general　line　of　strategy　and；　though　they　obeyed　orders；　they　were　not　without　doubts　and　misgivings。
Zhuge　Liang　said　to　Liu　Bei；　〃You　may　now　lead　your　soldiers　to　the　hills　and　camp　till　the　enemy　shall　arrive　tomorrow　evening。　Then　you　are　to　abandon　the　camp　and　move　away　retreating　till　the　signal　is　seen。　Then　you　will　advance　and　attack　with　all　force。　Mi　Zhu；　Mi　Fang；　and　I　will　guard　the　city。〃
In　the　city　Zhuge　Liang　prepared　banquets　to　celebrate　the　victory　and　also　prepared　the　books　to　record　exceptional　services。
Liu　Bei　noted　all　these　things；　but　his　heart　was　also　troubled　not　a　little。
Cao　Cao's　army　of　one　hundred　thousand　troops　in　due　course　reached　Bowang。　Then　half　of　them；　the　veterans；　were　told　off　for　the　first　attack；　and　the　remainder　were　to　guard　the　baggage　train　and　supplies。　Thus　they　marched　in　two　divisions。　The　season　was　autumn　and　a　chilly　wind　began　to　blow。
They　pressed　forward。　Presently　they　saw　a　cloud　of　dust　ahead　of　them；　and　Xiahou　Dun　ordered　the　ranks　to　be　reformed。　He　questioned　the　guides　as　to　the　name　of　the　place。
〃The　place　in　front　is　Bowang　Slope；　and　behind　us　is　the　River　Luo；〃　was　the　reply。
Then　Xiahou　Dun　rode　to　the　front　to　reconnoiter；　leaving　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian　to　finish　setting　out　the　battle　array。
Presently　Xiahou　Dun　began　to　laugh　and；　when　they　asked　the　cause　of　this　merriment；　he　replied；　〃Xu　Shu　praised　Zhuge　Liang　to　the　very　skies　as　something　more　than　human。　But　now　that　I　see　how　he　has　placed　his　soldiers　and　the　stuff　he　has　put　into　his　vanguard；　it　seems　to　me　that　he　is　sending　dogs　or　sheep　against　tigers　and　leopards。　I　bragged　a　little　when　I　said　I　would　take　him　prisoner；　but　I　am　going　to　make　good　my　boast。〃
Then　he　rode　forward　at　full　speed。
Zhao　Yun　rode　to　meet　him；　and　Xiahou　Dun　opened　a　volley　of　abuse；　〃You　lot；　followers　of　Liu　Bei；　are　only　like　wraiths　following　devils！〃
This　angered　Zhao　Yun　and　a　bat　began。　In　a　little　time　Zhao　Yun　turned　and　retreated　as　if　he　was　worsted。　Xiahou　Dun　pressed　after　him　and　kept　up　the　chase　for　some　three　miles。　Then　Zhao　Yun　suddenly　turned　again　and　offered　fight；　but　only　to　retreat　after　a　few　passes。
Seeing　these　tactics　Han　Hao；　one　of　Xiahou　Dun's　generals；　rode　up　to　his　chief　and　urged　him　to　use　caution；　saying；　〃I　fear　he　is　trying　to　lead　us　into　an　ambush。〃
〃With　such　antagonists　as　these；　I　should　not　fear　even　Ten　Ambushes；〃　replied　Xiahou　Dun；　pressing　forward　eagerly。
Just　as　he　reached　the　slope；　he　heard　the　roar　of　a　bomb　and　out　came　Liu　Bei　to　attack。
〃Here　is　your　ambush！〃　said　Xiahou　Dun；　laughing。　〃I　will　get　to　Xinye　this　evening　before　I　have　done。〃
Xiahou　Dun　urged　his　soldiers　forward；　and　his　opponents　retired　in　measure　as　he　advanced。　As　evening　came　on；　thick　clouds　overcast　the　whole　sky。　The　wind　increased　but　the　leader　still　urged　his　troops　after　the　retreating　foe。
The　two　generals　in　the　rear　came　to　a　narrow　part　of　the　road　with　reeds　and　rushes　thick　all　round　them。
〃Those　who　despise　the　enemy　are　beaten；〃　said　Li　Dian　to　Yu　Jin。　〃Away　south　there　the　roads　are　narrow；　and　streams　and　mountains　make　the　country　difficult。　The　forests　are　dense；　and　if　the　enemy　used　fire　we　should　be　lost。〃
〃You　are　right；〃　replied　Yu　Jin。　〃I　will　get　on　and　warn　the　manding　General。　Perhaps　he　will　stop。　You　can　halt　those　who　e　up。〃
Yu　Jin　rode　forward　shouting　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　〃Halt　the　train！〃
Xiahou　Dun　saw　him　ing　up　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。
Yu　Jin　said；　〃The　roads　here　are　narrow　and　difficult。　Around　us　are　thick　forests。　What　if　they　use　fire？〃
Xiahou　Dun's　ferocity　had　then　somewhat　abated　and　he　turned　his　steed　toward　his　main　body。
Then　there　arose　a　shout　behind　him。　A　rushing　noise　came　from　in　the　reeds　and　great　tongues　of　flame　shot　up　here　and　there。　These　spread　and　soon　the　fire　was　in　〃the　four　quarters　and　the　eight　sides；〃　and　fanned　by　a　strong　wind。
Xiahou　Dun's　troops　were　thrown　into　confusion　and　trampled　each　other　down。　Many　perished。　Zhao　Yun　turned　on　them　again　to　make　a　slaughter。　Xiahou　Dun　dashed　through　the　fire　and　smoke　to　escape。
Now　Li　Dian　saw　that　things　were　going　very　badly；　so　he　turned　to　get　back　to　Bowang　but　fell　upon　a　body　of　troops　in　the　way；　led　by　Guan　Yu。　He　desperately　dashed　into　their　midst　and　managed　to　get　clear。　Yu　Jin　saw　the　supplies　were　being　destroyed　and　there　was　nothing　left　to　guard；　so　he　escaped　along　a　bye…path。　Two　other　generals；　who　came　to　try　to　save　the　baggage　train；　met　Zhang　Fei；　and　Xiahou　Lan　was　slain　forthwith；　but　Han　Hao　managed　to　flee。　Next　morning　the　countryside　was　strewn　with　corpses　and　drenched　with　blood。

The　armies　met　on　Bowang　Slope
And　Zhuge　Liang　fought　with　fire；
A　perfect　strategist；　he　bent
All　humans　to　his　desire。
But　poor　Cao　Cao；　his　enemy；
He　trembled　in　his　shoes
Before　the　man；　who'd　never　fought
But　yet　could　armies　use。

Xiahou　Dun　drew　up　the　battered　remains　of　his　army　and　led　them　back　to　Xuchang。
Zhuge　Liang　ordered　his　armies　to　collect。
As　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　rode　homeward；　they　confessed；　saying；　〃Zhuge　Liang　is　really　a　fine　strategist！〃
Before　long　they　saw　Mi　Zhu　and　Mi　Fang　leading　out　a　small　body　of　soldiers。　Among　them　was　a　light　carriage　in　which　the　Directing　Instructor　Zhuge　Liang　was　seating。　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei　dismounted　and　bowed　before　him。　The　remaining　bodies　came　in。　The　spoil　was　distributed　among　the　soldiers　and　all　returned　to　Xinye；　where　the　populace　lined　the　roads　to　bid　them　wele。
〃We　owe　our　lives　to　the　Prince！〃　they　cried　to　Liu　Bei。
Said　Zhuge　Liang；　〃Xiahou　Dun　has　been　driven　off；　but　Cao　Cao　will　e　with　a　stronger　force。〃
〃And　what　shall　we　do？〃　replied　Liu　Bei。
〃My　plan　is　quite　ready；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。

Always　battles；　nowhere　rest　for　horse　or　human；
Must　rely　on　ruses；　dodging　where　one　can。

The　plan　prepared　against　Cao　Cao　will　be　unfolded　in　the　next　chapter。
　Main　Next　to　Chapter　40　》》

　　　Romance　of　Three　Kingdoms　…　by　Luo　Guanzhong　…　Chapter　40
　Chapter　40
Lady　Cai　Renounces　Jingzhou；
Zhuge　Liang　Burns　Xinye。
When　Liu　Bei　asked　how　his　adviser　hoped　to　repel　Cao　Cao；　Zhuge　Liang　replied；　〃Xinye　is　a　small　city　and　unfitted　for　our　lengthy　occupation。　Liu　Biao　is　ill　and　failing　fast；　so　this　is　the　time　to　take　his　region　as　a　base　where　we　may　be　safe　against　Cao　Cao。〃
〃You　speak　well；　but　Liu　Biao　has　shown　me　great　kindness；　and　I　could　not　bear　to　serve　him　an　ill　turn。〃
〃If　you　do　not　take　this　opportunity；　you　will　regret　it　ever　after；〃　said　Zhuge　Liang。
〃I　would　rather　perish　than　do　what　is　wrong。〃
〃We　will　discuss　it　again；〃　replied　Zhuge　Liang。
When　Xiahou　Dun　reached　the　capital；　he　presented　himself　to　his　master　in　bonds　and　craved　death。　But　his　master　loosed　him　and　let　him　tell　his　tale。
And　Xiahou　Dun　said；　〃I　was　the　victim　of　Zhuge　Liang's　evil　machinations：　He　attacked　with　fire。〃
〃As　a　soldier　from　your　youth；　you　should　have　remembered　that　fire　was　a　likely　weapon　in　narrow　roads。〃
〃Li　Dian　and　Yu　Jin　reminded　me。　I　am　sorry　enough　now。〃
Cao　Cao　rewarded　Li　Dian　and　Yu　Jin　who　had　warned　their　leader。
〃Liu　Bei　as　strong　as　he　is　now　certainly　is　a　menace　to　our　existence；　and　he　must　be　quickly　destroyed；〃　said　Xiahou　Dun。
〃He　is　one　of　my　anxieties；〃　replied　Cao　Cao。　〃Sun　Quan　is　the　other。　The　rest　do　not　count。　We　must　take　this　chance　to　sweep　the　south　clean。〃
Then　orders　were　issued　to　prepare　an　army　of　five　hundred　thousand　troops；　in　five　divisions　of　ten　legions　each。　Each　division　had　two　leaders：　Cao　Ren　and　Cao　Hong　were　in　mand　of　the　first　division；　Zhang　Liao　and　Zhang　He；　the　second；　Xiahou　Dun　and　Xiahou　Yuan；　the　third；　Yu　Jin　and　Li　Dian；　the　fourth。　The　fifth　body　was　led　by　Cao　Cao　himself。　The　van　was　manded　by　Xu　Chu。　The　〃horse〃　day　of　the　seventh　moon　of　the　thirteenth　year　of　Rebuilt　Tranquillity　was　fixed　for　the　march　（AD　208）。
The　High　Minister；　Kong　Rong；　offered　a　remonstrance。
He　said；　〃Liu　Bei　and　Liu　Biao　are　both　of　the　Imperial　House　and　should　not　be　attacked　without　grave　reasons。　Sun　Quan　in　the　six　territories　of　the　South　Land　is　terrible　as　a　crouching　tiger　and；　with　the　Great　River　as　his　defense；　he　is　very　secure。　If；　Sir　Prime　Minister；　you　undertake　this　unjustifiable　expedition；　you　will　forfeit　the　respect　of　the　world；　I　fear。〃
〃All　three　of　them　are　disobedient　ministers　and　rebels；　and　how　can　I　fail　to　punish　them？〃　replied　Cao　Cao。
Cao　Cao　was　angry；　and　bade　the　adviser　go　from　his　presence。　Presently　Cao　Cao　gave　formal　orders　that　he　would　put　to　death　anyone　who　remonstrated　on　the　subject　of　his　expedition。
Kong　Rong　went　forth　from　the　Palace　sadly。
Casting　his　eyes　up　to　heaven；　he　cried；　〃Where　is　the　chance　of　success　when　the　perfectly　inhumane　attacks　the　perfectly　humane？　He　must　be　defeated！〃
One　of　the　clients　of　the　Imperial　Inspector　Chi　Lu；　whom　Kong　Rong　had　always　treated　contemptuously　and　disdainfully；　happened　to　hear　this　apostrophe　and　told　his　patron　who　carried　the　tale　to　Cao　Cao。
Chi　Lu　also　added　to　it；　saying；　〃Kong　Rong　habitually　speaks　disrespectfully　of　the　Chief　Minister　and　has　been　very　friendly　with　Mi　Heng。　In　fact　the　insults　that　Mi　Heng　had　hurled　at　you　had　been　deliberately　arranged　and　intrigued　by　Kong　Rong。　Kong　Rong　and　Mi　Heng　seemed　to　admire　each　other　hugely；　and　Mi　Heng　used　to　say；　'Confucius　is　not　dead；　because　Kong　Rong　is　he；'　and　the　other　used　to　reply；　'And　his　treasured　disciple；　Yan　Hui；　has　risen　again；　because　Mi　Heng　is　he。'〃
Chi　Lu's　tale　angered　Cao　Cao；　who　ordered　the　arrest　execution　of　the　high　minister。
Now　Kong　Rong　had　two　sons；　both　young；　who　were　sitting　at　home　playing　chess；　when　one　of　their　servants　ran　in　and　said；　〃Your　father　has　just　been　carried　off　for　execution。　Why　do　you　not　run　away？〃
The　youths　replied；　〃When　the　nest　is　pulled　down；　are　the　eggs　left　unbroken？〃
Even　at　that　moment　the　same　executors　came　and　carried　off　the　whole　household。　The　two　youths　were　beheaded。　The　father's　corpse　was　exposed　in　the　streets。
Minister　Zhi　Xi　wept　over　the　corpse。　This　public　exhibition　of　sympathy　rekindled　Cao　Cao's　anger；　and　he　was　going　to　punish　it　with　death。
However；　this　additional　punishment　was　prevented　by　Adviser　Xun　Yu；　who　said；　〃You　should　not　slay　a　righteous　man　who　came　to　mourn　over　his　friend's　corpse。　Zhi　Xi　had　often　warned　Kong　Rong　against　the　danger　his　severe　rectitude　might　lead　him　into。〃
Zhi　Xi　took　up　the　remains　of　father　and　sons　and　buried　them。

Kong　Rong；　who　dwelt　on　the　north　sea　shore；
A　noble　reputation　bore；
With　him　all　guests　warm　wele　found；
And　ceaselessly　the　wine　went　round。
For　skill　in　letters　he　was　famed；
In　speech；　he　dukes　and　princes　shamed；
Historians　his　merits　tell；
Recorders　say　that　he　did　well。

After　wreaking　his　wrath　on　Kong　Rong；　Cao　Cao　issued　the　order　to　march。　Xun　Yu　was　left　in　mand　of　the　capital。
About　this　time　the　Imperial　Protector　of　Jingzhou　became　seriously　ill；　and　he　summoned　Liu　Bei　to　his　chamber。　Liu　Bei　went　acpanied　by　his　two　brothers；　Guan　Yu　and　Zhang　Fei；　and　Directing　Instructor　Zhuge　Liang。
Liu　Biao　said；　〃The　disease　has　attacked　my　very　vitals；　and　my　time　is　short。　I　confide　my　orphans　to　your　guardianship。　My　sons　is　unfit　to　succeed　to　my　place；　and　I　pray　you；　my　brother；　administer　the　region　after　my　death。〃
Liu　Bei　wept；　saying；　〃I　will　do　my　utmost　to　help　my　nephews。　What　else　could　I　do；　indeed？〃
Even　at　this　moment　came　the　news　of　the　march　of　Cao　Cao's　armies；　and　Liu　Bei；　taking　hasty　leave　of　his　kinsman；　was　forced　to　hurry　to　his　station。　The　evil　tidings　aggravated　the　sick　man's　condition；　and　he　began　to　make　his　last　arrangements。　In　his　testament　he　appointed　Liu　Bei　the　guardian　of　his　son　Liu　Qi；　who　was　to　succeed　in　the　lordship。
This　ar